Signaling system.



W. A. FRICKE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPUCATION FILED AUG.25. |914.

l ,ZSSUBQ Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

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w. A. FRICKE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED Aue.25. |914.

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`WILLIAM A. FIR'ICKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATICELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

-SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Oct. 29, 1918..

Application filed August 25, 1914. Serial No. 853,491.

certain new and usefulA Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling systems and more particularly tosystems adapted for use in railway despatching. In telegraph work itoften happens that the oper ator is called away from the receivinginstrument and thus a great deal of delay and inconvenience are caused,as the calling operator is unable to raise the station desired*immediately.

The object of my invention is to enable this undesirable feature to beovercome by arranging a special signaling apparatus which is used inconnection with the ordinary telegraph line circuit, so that if thestation which is being signaled cannot be raised bythe regular codecall, the special signaling device will be operated to signal thedesired station.

These and other objects and features of my invention will be morereadily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichI'have illustrated one embodiment of my invention.

Inthe drawings Figure 1 isa plan view of a substation selector.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with the side plate removed.

Fig. 3 diagrammatically represents a line circuit comprising a pluralityof stations.

Referring to Fig. 3, the telegraph line 30--31 comprises a plurality ofstations, only three of which are shown. Each station relay 25 forcontrolling the sounder, and the sending key 26. To each stationrequiring the special signaling apparatus is added 45 a relay 27, asolenoid 28 and a selector switch E. The relay 27 is preferably slowacting ,and does not respond to the ordinary dots and dashes used in theMorse telegraph code, but if the line circuit is held open for av longerperiod of time, or if the impulses transmitted are longer than theordinary dash, the said relay will readily respond. The solenoid 28 isprovided with a plunger shaft 32. to which is attached a wiper 33 forwiping over the contacts 36 and 37. The downward movement of the shaftis retarded and controlled by a delaying device 34. The switch 35 .isthe ordinary key switch used in telegraph work.

The mechanism of the substation selector shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ismounted between two side plates 2 and 3, which are secured to the'baseblock 4 and the spacing posts 5 and 6. Journaled between the plates 2and 3 there is a shaft 7 carrying a ratchet Wheel 8 rigidly securedthereto. rllhe shaft 7 is maintained in its normal position with the pin9 in the wheel 8-resting against the stationary stop post 10 by means ofa small spiral spring 11, one end of which is secured to the shaft 7 andthe other end to the pin l2. The ratchet wheel 48 may be rotated forwardby means of an electromagnet 13, which controls the arlnature 14 and thepawl 15, which latter is secured to the upper end of the said armature.F or maintaining the ratchet wheel in any advanced position against thetension of the spring 11 there is provided a holding pawl 16 which isrigidly secured to the shaft 17, 'which shaft is pivoted between theplates 2 and 3. This pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet wheelby the preponderance of weight at its rear end. A throw-off is providedfor the holding pawl 16, said throw-off comprising a solenoid 19 which,when energized through the medium of its plunger 20, removes the saidholding pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel 8 for a period oftime long enough to allow the spring 11to return the shaft 7 to normalposition. Secured to the side of the plate 3, but insulated therefrom,is a pair of electrical contacts 22 which are adapted to be contacted byan arm 23 on the shaft 7 after the wheel 8 has been advanced a certainnumber of steps. When the magnet 13 is energized, the armature 14: isdrawn forward and the pawl 15 operates to rotate the wheel 8 forward onestep. The retain ing pawl 16 then holds it in its advanced positionafter the relay -13 denergizes. The relay 13 operates in this manner toadvance the ratchet Wheel 8 and the arni23 to a position where the arm23 contacts the wiper 22 and closes a local signaling circuit. Torelease the selector E a circuit is classed through the solenoid 19. Its.plunger 20, upon being-attracted, removes the retaining pawl 16 fromengagement with the ratchet wheel 8 and the spiral spring 11 returns theshaft 7 to normal position.

The battery B is the main or line battery. Associated with each stationis a battery B and a battery B2. The battery B is for operating therelays and the selector E associated with the said station, while thebattery B2 is used for signaling purposes-that is, for ringing the bells39, or for operating whatever other signaling device may be used inconnection with the selector E.

.Having given a general description of the` apparatus, it will now beexplained how the operator at station X may signal the operator atstation Y by meanspof the selector E, the operator at stationY Y havingfailed to respond to the ordinary Morse code signal. It will beassumed'V that the numbers 'of the stations Z, X and Y are 7, 8 and .9,respectively-that is, the line relay 27 associated with the substation Zmust be operated seven times to close its local signaling circuit; theline relay 27 lassociated with the substation X must be operated eighttimes to close its local circuit, etc.

The operator at substation X, after having failed to ,attract theattention of the operator at station Y by operating his sounderaccording to the code signal, opens and closes his sending key 26 ninetimes, allowing the key to remain open each time for a period of timelonger than would be the case if dashes of the Morse code were sent.This opening and closing of the sending key 26 causes the line relays 27at the different stations to respond a corresponding number of times.Each time the line relay at station Ydenergizes, a circuit is closedthrough the solenoid 28. This circuit extends from the negative polel ofbattery B through the contact of springs 42 and the solenoid 28 to theopposite terminal of battery B. The solenoid 28, upon energizing, raisesits wiper 33 to effect contact between the bank contacts 36 and 37. Thedelaying device 34 is so arranged as not to allow the wiper 33 to passofi' the contacts 36 and 37 during the time that impulses are beingtransmitted through the line relay 27 by the operator at station X. Onemethod of delaying the return of the wiper 33 to normal is the use ofthe well-known dash-pot on the lower end of said wiper. The opening inthe piston'of this dash-pot may be varied in size to increase ordecrease the speed of the wiper in returning to normal. Also the numberof Contacts 36 and 37 may be increased or they may be spaced furtherapart making it very simple to lengthen or shorten the time taken by thewiper to reach its lowest point. A further result of theoperation of theline relay 27 is to close a circuit through the operating magnets 13 ofstation Y each time the said relay denergizes. This circuit eX- tendsfrom the negative terminal of battery B through the said springs 42,operating magnets 13, bank contacts 37, wiper 33, bank contacts 36 tothe opposite pole of battery B. The operating magnet 13 operates torotate the arm 23 around nine steps and into engagement with the wiper22.

The arm 23 contacting with wiper 22 closes a signaling circuit throughthe bells 39 of the station Y. This circuit extends from one pole ofbattery B2 through the said bells 39, ratchet wheel 8, arm 23 and thewiper 22 to the opposite terminal of battery B2. This circuit remainsclosed as long as the arm 23` remains in contact with the wiper 22,which depends upon the length of time that the operator .at the stationX allows the main circuit to be open and also uponthe length of timethat it takes for the solenoid wiper 33 to descend (after the main linecircuit is closed) and close the circuit of the release solenoid 19.

As soon as the wiper 33 at-tached to the plunger 32 of the solenoid 28has descended to a point where the said wiper contacts the bank contacts36 and 45, a circuit is closed through the release solenoid 19. Thiscircuit extends from the negative side of battery B through the'contactpoints 36, wiper 33, contact point`45 and the solenoid 19 to theopposite pole of batteryB". The solenoid 19, upon energizing, attractsits plunger 20, which operates to .remove the holding pawl 16 fromengagement with the ratchet wheel 8, which immediately returns to normalby the tension of the yspring 11, and the circuit of the solenoid 19 isbroken an instant later when the wiper 33 passes off the bank contact45. As soon as the bells atthe station Y cease ringing, the operator atvsaid station comes in upon the line in the usual manner, signaling theoperator lat the station X and thus indicating to him that he is readyto receive the message.

From the foregoing it will be seen that at the time when the seventhimpulse is being transmitted, a circuit is closed through the bells 39at the substation Z, but this is for a short period of time only and theoperator at substation Z (as well as at all other stations) isinstructed not to respond to short rings. Therefore, the only operatorwho will answer is the' operator at station Y when his bells are given along ring.

The lowest number assigned to a station will be six. The reason for thisis that, should the operator at any station be particularly slow insending a message, and the selector E be falsely operated, theselectorlwill never be advanced more than live steps before the release circuitof said selector will be closed and the apparatus released,.as the mostdots and dashes used-in any letter in the Morse code is five. It'willtherefore be readily seen that the station selector E will 1,ese,soe

always return to normal no matter if the line relay should be falselyoperated.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a very eliicient system inwhich, if the operator does not respond to the regular code c all, thesending operator can causethe special signaling apparatus to operate,thus operating the'special signal to call the desired operator to thereceiver.

While I have illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, itwill, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but vthat various changes andmodifications can be readily made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

What I claim as my invention is e 1. In a signaling system, a linecircuit,

a plurality of receiving magnets connected in said circuit, a slowacting relay associated with one or more of said magnets, other magnets,said slow acting relay being nonresponsive to telegraphic impulsestransmitted over said line, means for transmitting impulses over saidline slower than telegraphic impulses to control said relay -to operatesaid other magnets, a signaling cir.

cuit and a signal associated with ,saidl slow acting relay and meanscontrolled by said other magnets for closing said signaling circuit tooperate said signal.

2; In a signaling system, a line circuit, a plurality of slow actingrelays connectedin said line circuit, said relays being non-responsiveto telegraphic impulses, aplurality of receiving magnets in said circuitresponsive to telegraphic impulses, a signal for each of said slowacting relays, a circuit for each signal, and means controlled by one ofsaid slow acting relays to close its signaling circuit to operate theassociated signal.

3. In a signaling system, a line circuit, a plurality of slow actingrelays connected in saidline circuit, said relays being non-responsivetotelegraphic impulses, a plurality of receiving magnets in said circuitresponsive to telegraphic impulses, a signal associated with each ofsaid slow acting relays, a circuit for each signal, and a selectivedevice controlled by each of said slow acting relays to close lone ofsaid signaling circuits to operate its associated signal.

4. In al signaling system, a line circuit having a plurality of stationsconnected thereto, each of said stations including a transmitting key, areceiving sounder connected in series in said circuit, a slow actingrelay connected in series in said circuit, a signal, and a selectivedevice controlled by said slow acting relay for controlling theoperation of said signal, whereby said signals can be selectivelyoperated through the medium of said slow acting relays.

5. In a signaling system, a line circuit,

means for sending impulses of different character over said linecircuit, a slow acting relay in said circuit, a selective devicecontrolled by said relay, a signal, and a signaling circuit controlledby said selective device for controlling said signal',l said relaycontrolled by impulses of only one character over said line circuit tooperate said selective device to in turn operate said signal.

6. In a signaling system, a conductor and a source of current forming acircuit, station apparatus associated with said circuit, said lapparatuscomprising means for receiving telegraph impulses and means forreceiving impulses other than telegraph impulses, a plurality of magnetsand a signal for said station, a circuit for said signal, said lastmeans controlling said magnets to close said signaling circuit tooperate said signal. v

7. In a signaling system, a conductor and a source of current forming acircuit, a plu rality of stations for said circuit, equipment for eachstation, said equipment comprising means responsive to telegraphimpulses of current, and means responsive to impulses of current otherthan telegraph impulses, magnets and a signal for each station, acircuit for each signal, said last means controlling said magnets toclose one of said signaling circuits to operate the associated signal.

8. In a signaling system, a conductor and a source of current forming acircuit, a plu'- rality of stations for said circuit, equipment Jforeach station, said equipment comprising means responsive to telegraphimpulses of current, and means responsive to impulses of current otherthan telegraph impulses,

magnets and a signal for each station, a cirlcuit for each signal, saidmagnets operating progressively movable mechanism, said last meanscontrolling said magnets whereby said progressively movable mechanismmay be operated to close one of said signaling circuits to operate theassociated signal.

9. In a signaling system, a conductor and a source of current forming acircuit, a plurality of stations for said circuit, equipment for eachstation, said equipment comprising means responsive to telegraphimpulses of current, and a relay responsive to impulses of current otherthan telegraph impulses, selective apparatus and a signal for eachstation,H a circuit for each signal, said relay controlling saidselective apparatus to close one of said signaling circuits to operateits signal.

l0. In a signaling system, a conductor and a source of current forming acircuit, a plurality of stations for said circuit, equipment for eachstation, said equipment comprising means responsive to telegraph4impulses of current, and means responsive to impulses of current otherthan telegraph impulses, magnets and a. signal for each station, acircuit for each signal, said magnets Ament for each station, saidequipment comprising means responsive to telegraph impulses oi' current,and a relay responsive to impulses of current other than telegraph impulsesv` selective apparatus and a signal for each station, a circuitfor each signal, said relay controlling said selective apparatus toclose one of said signaling circuits to operate its signal, and meansfor releasing said selective apparatus.

12.' In a signaling system, aline, a relay having a coil in said line, aprogressively movable switch, a signaling circuit controlled by saidswitch, a signal, an impulse sender for sending impulses over said linefor operating said relay to control said switch, said relay providedwith means for preventing the relay from denergizing suficientlylbetween-impulses while the impulse sender is sending impulses of onecharacter to permit the relay armature to fall back,

but responsive to impulses of a different character for controlling saidprogressively movable switch to close said signaling circuit to controlsaid signal.

13. In a signaling system, a line, a plurality of stations on said line,equipment for each station, said equipment comprising a progressivelymovable switch, a signaling circuit controlled by said switch, a signal,an impulse sender, a relay having a coil in said line, said sendersending impulses over said line for operating said relay to control saidswitch, said relay provided with means for preventing the relay fromdenergizing sufi iciently between impulses while the impulse sender issending impulses of one character tov permit the relay armature to fallback, but responsive to impulses of a different character forcontrolling its associated progressively movable switch, the said relaysof said stations being operated together whereby said switches may beoperated simultaneously to close one of said signaling circuits at atime. i

Signed by me at Chicago', Cook county, Illinois, this 18th dayl ofAugust 1914.

WILLIAM A. FRICKE.

Witnesses Gro. A. YANocHowsKI, HARRY E. HERSHEY.

